Neckties



May l0, 1955 E. M. LAsKowsKl NECKTIES Filed Oct. 22. 1952 llll. 'U

INVEN TOR.

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2,767,787 Nncrrrrns Edwin M. `Laskowski, South Bend, Ind.

Application ctober 22, 1952, Serial No.v 316,227

This invention relates to improvements in neckties.

The yprimary object of the invention is to 'provide a necktie which is pre-tied and which is adapted'to be attached to the collar of a shirt quickly and expeditiously and to be held in position by means of a' clip' of'novel character having a lock readily releasable to permit engagement and disengagement of the necktie with the shirt.

A further object is to provide a pre-tied necktie unit having the appearance of a normal knot and the drape of a regular four-in-hand tie, which is so positioned that it holds the knot-simulating portion and the draped strands in a natural attitude similar to a regular necktie.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing: f

Y Fig. l is a fragmentary rear view of the necktie.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on' line 2 2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the body of the device, illustrating the manner in which the clip is constructed, and, in particular, illustrating the releasabie locking means for the clip.

Fig. 5 is a schematic View illustrating the manner in which the tie is positioned in use.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral itl designates a body portion of a knot-outlining member. This may be formed of wood, plastic or any other material of a character which preferably will be light in weight, inexpensive, and capable of maintaining its shape. The body lll is of generally oval shape or outline in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and is of somewhat tapering shape with its largest cross-sectional transverse dimension at its upper partl and tapering downwardly to its lower end.

The upper surface 12 of the body is preferably inclined by a second groove having side walls 1S and a bottom wall t A bore 22 opens at the surface 2t) at the bottom of the groove substantially mid-height thereof, and this bore merges into a concentric bore portion 24 of larger diameter adjacent the rear or inner surface of the body lil, said enlarged bore portion 24 opening at a point slightly below the junction of the inclined upper surface l2 with the rear surface of the body lll;

A plug orinsert 26 seats in the outermost groove with its outer surface substantially conforming'to the contour of the front surface of the bodyand with its rear surface 28 spaced from and parallel to the groovedrsurface 16, as seen in Fig. 3V, to define a passageway between the surface 16 and the plug'26, Alternatively, as seen in Fig. 2, the plug 26 may be constructed to t snugly in the groove defined by the walls 14 and 16 except at a point adjacent to the bore 22 at which the same may be recessed at its rear surface for purposes to be described. The plug 26 Cil 2,797,787 Patented May 1G, 1%55 is releasably mounted in place or may be held in place by securing means, such as cement or a bonding agent, or any other type of means desired. When properly secured in place, the insert complements or completes the contour of the body 1t) so that the assembly constitutes a form of the shape of the knot of a four-in-hand tie and of a size slightly smaller than such a tie knot.

A clip is positioned to extend vertically in the passageway or groove defined by the walls 18 and 20. This clip includes a pair of substantially parallel legs 30 which preferably are formed of wire of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the groove wall 18. The free ends 32 of the parallel wire runs or legs 30 will preferably be inturned as illustrated in Fig. 4. The -wire runs 30 will have at least a portion of the length thereof roughened as by grooves 34, ridges or other means, as best seen in Fig. 4. The leg portions Snare spaced aparta distance to fit snugly against the side walls 18 of the groove, and at their upper ends are inturned at 36 to merge with vertical abutting run portions 33 which are held iixedly in parallel abutting relation by any suitable means, for example, by a metal fastener 4G, as shown. The abutting portions 38 are bent angularly rearwardly downwardly at 42 and include diverging portionsv 4d and converging portions i6 which merge integrally. The parts 44 and d6 define a hook of substantial dimension lwhich may be curved, as best illustrated in Fig. 2,V at 4S at the portion thereof which abuts the top of the knot member.

A substantially U-shaped wire having parallel legs is positioned in the concentric apertures 22, 24. The legs 5@ are joined by an integral intermediate portion 52, which is preferably of substantially E-shape as viewed in Fig. 3. At their opposite ends the legs Sil terminate in out-turned foot members 54 which are adapted to engage the roughened or grooved portions 34 of the clip legs 39, for which purpose grooves or recesses 56 may be formed in the body interrupting the surfaces 16. A coil spring 58 is received in the bore portions22, 2d between the leg portions 50 and bears at one end upon the insert or plug 26 at a recess therein, and at the opposite end against the cross-piece 52. which connects the leg portions 56. A cap or push button '6% has a circumferential flange 62 which tits in the enlarged bore portion 24. The inner face. of the cap bears against the intermediate part 52 connecting the legs 50.

The arrangement is such that the cap 60 will normally projectsomewhat from the rear surface of the body 10 and, when depressed, serves to push the legs 5t) lengthwise against the action of the coil spring 58 to shift the foot portions 54 into engagement with the plug 26 and out of engagement with the roughened portions 34 of the legs 30. Thereupon, the legs 3l) of the clip. are free to move lengthwise in their guide groove 18, 20 to selected position as between a position as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which they contact the upper part of the knot, and an elevated position as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Upon release of pressure upon the button 60 the parts are returned and the foot portions 54 contact and engage the legs 30 of the clip to lock thenragainst longitudinal displacement. It will be understood that the clip portion 42, 44, 46 is inserted behind the collar band of al shirt with the upper portion of the knot member bearing at against that collar band between the wings of a shirt collar 64, so that the device assumes a position as illustrated in Fig. 5 with the inclined portion 12 of the knot body being positioned substantially parallel to the vertical attitude of the collar band.

' A tie member having afront strand 66 and' a rear strand 68 has its intermediate portion passed around the.

body lll, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus a front run.

70 of the strand engages and substantially covers thefront of the body. Anintermediate portion 72 of the strand passes across the top ofthe body, and a rear portion 74 of the strand extends across the rear of the body to merge with the strand 68.

A padding member 76 will preferably be employed extending around at least a part of the knot body at the front thereof. The iinish of the knot will be provided by a fabric of the same material as the strands 66, 63 of the tie which will pass around the body from a front intermediate part 78 thereof to opposite ends which are joined at 80 at the rear center of the device and which are stitched together. A panel S2 formed of the same material covers the top of the body, being preferably integral therewith at the top front of the body and being stitched at 84 at the rear of the top surface. The various layers of material 66, 68, 76 and 7S are preferably stitched together at 86 below the knot.

The arrangement is such that the body l() is completely concealed and the fabric has the appearance of a regular knot and will be padded to have a certain softness to the touch. The neck 38, 40 of the hook or clip passes through openings in fabric parts 72, 82, and hook 42, 44. 46 bears against the fabric layer 82 when the tie is detached from a shirt, and the fabric layer S2, of course, bears against the front or outer surface of the neckband of the shirt when the device is Worn. r[he fabric being flexible accommodates depression of the push button 69 by squeezing thereagainst, but this does not detract from the appearance of the knot when the tie is worn since the expansion of the spring 53 will re-stretch the fabric after pressure on the push button is released.

The use of the device is simple and rapid. Thus the user squeezes the push button and moves the clip outwardly to a position spaced from the top of the knot substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4, providing adequate clearance between the clip and the knot body to permit insertion of the clip behind the neckband. Thereupon, while continuing to hold the push button depressed and while holding the clip in proper position against the neckband, the knot body is slid upwardly until a clamp action occurs between the top surface of the knot body and the securing clip. Thereupon, pressure upon the push button is released and the device is anchored in place and will maintain its position. Observe in this connection that the front surface of the body is tilted forwardly and downwardly so that the knot assumes a natural position and likewise that the drape portion 66, 68 below the tie will fall in a natural attitude from the bottom of the knot and spaced forwardly from the front of the wearers shirt.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without depart-- ing from the spirit of the invention.

l claim:

l. In a necktie, a substantially rigid body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having an elongated passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body member and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having an elongated portion slidable in and guided by said passage and a hook portion projecting from rst named clip portion and positioned externally of said body at the top thereof, a retainer shiftable in said bore, and a spring in said bore normally urging said retainer to press said elongated clip portion into engagement withsaid body at said passage.

2. In a necktie, a substantially rigid body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having an elongated passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body member and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having a pair of elongated spaced leg portions slidable in said passage and a hook portion projecting from said leg portions and located externally of said body, and a spring-urged retainer shiftable in said bore and releasably clamping said leg portions in selected position in said passage, said leg portions having guided engagement with said body at said passage for the major portion of their length.

3. in a necktie, a substantially rigid body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having a passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having a pair of spaced elongated leg portions slidable in and guided by said passage and a hook portion projecting from said leg portions and located outside of said body and thereabove, a U-shaped retainer slidable in said bore and having foot portions at its ends projecting into said passage into engagement with said legs, and a spring in said bore normally urging said retainer in a direction whereby said foot portions press said clip leg portions in ixcd frictional locked position in said passage.

4. in a necktie, a body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having a passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having a pair of spaced leg portions slidable in and guided by said passage and a hook portion projecting from said leg portions and located outside of said body, a U-shaped retainer slidable in said bore and having foot portions at its ends projecting into said passage, a spring in said bore normally urging said retainer in a direction whereby said foot portions ciarnp said clip leg portions in iixed position in said passage, and a cap shiftable in the outer end portion of said bore and bearing against said retainer.

5. ln a necktie, a substantially rigid body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having a passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having a pair of spaced elongated leg portions slidable in and guided by said passage and a hook portion projecting from said leg portions and located outside of said body and thereabove, a U-shaped retainer slidable in said bore and having foot portions at its ends projecting into said passage, and a spring in said bore normally urging said retainer in a direction whereby said foot portions engage and press said clip leg portions in fixed position in said passage, said clip leg portions having rough surfaces engaged by said retainer foot portions.

6. .in a necktie, a body member formed of shaperetaining material and of a size and shape to simulate a necktie knot when sheathed by fabric, said body having a passage therein formed in said body and opening at its upper end and a bore open at the rear thereof and communicating with said passage intermediate the ends and the opposite sides of the passage, a clip having a hook portion and spaced leg portions connected to said hook portion and slidable in said passage between said bore and the sides of said passage, a U- shaped retainer slidable in said bore and having a transverse portion and foot portions projecting laterally outwardly from its ends for engagement with said clip leg portions, and a coil spring in said bore and retainer,

one end of said spring bearing against the transverse portion of said retainer and the other end bearing against said body at said passage.

7. ln a necktie, a body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having a passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having an elongated portion slidable in and guided by said passage and a hook portion projecting from said slidable portion, a retainer shiftable in said bore, and a spring in said bore normally urging said retainer to press said elongated clip portion in frictional latching engagement with said body at said passage, said body being formed of two parts having confronting faces shaped to cooperate to dene said passage therebetween, and means for holding said parts assembled, said bore being formed in one part and said spring and retainer being held assembled upon assembly of said parts.

8. In a necktie, a body member adapted to be sheathed by fabric to simulate a necktie knot, said body having a passage therein open at the upper end of the body and a bore formed in said body and opening at the rear of the body and communicating with said passage, a clip having a portion slidable in and guided by said passage anda hook portion projecting from said slidable portion, a retainer shiftable in said bore, and a spring in said bore normally urging said retainer into engagement with said clip portion to frictionally lock said clip in said body passage, said body being formed of two parts having confronting faces shaped to cooperate to dene said passage therebetween, and means to hold said parts assembled, said bore being formed in one part and said spring and retainer being held assembled upon assembly of said parts, the part opposite that in which said bore is formed having a recess to receive the end of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,198 Egberts Sept. 8, 1908 1,616,608 Crnoev Feb. 8, 1927 1,974,528 Brown Sept. 25, 1934 2,142,322 Martin Ian. 3, 1939 2,478,952 Taborski Aug. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 97,577 Sweden Oct. 12, 1939 

